Bicycle Coalition of Maine
Media Contact: Andrew Zarro
P: 207-623-4511
E: press@bikemaine.org
Student Killed in Standish School Bus Crash: Maine Must Prioritize Safe Streets
(Standish, Maine) December 16, 2025 — The Bicycle Coalition of Maine and Vision Zero Maine mourn the tragic death of a student who was killed Tuesday morning in a crash involving a school bus on Northeast Road near Edna Libby Elementary School in Standish. The Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office confirmed that the child died as a result of injuries sustained in the incident during morning pickup hours. The road was closed for an extended period as first responders and investigators worked at the scene.
This heartbreaking loss is felt deeply across the Standish community and beyond. The Coalition extends its sincere condolences to the student’s family, friends, and classmates during this unimaginably difficult time. Nothing is more important than the safety of Maine’s children, and the pain of losing a young life in a routine school‑related crash is a stark reminder of the dangers that persist on our roads.
The tragic collision highlights broader, systemic safety issues facing pedestrians and those who walk or bike to school, to bus stops, and throughout their communities. As we close the year, Maine continues to confront an unacceptably high toll of traffic violence. So far in 2025, there have been 227 pedestrian‑involved crashes resulting in 23 fatalities, and 204 bicycle‑involved crashes with 5 fatalities statewide. These figures represent lives cut short and families forever changed.
“These numbers are not just statistics,” said Andrew Zarro, Executive Director of the Bicycle Coalition of Maine. “They are people — our neighbors, friends, children, and community members who deserved to make it home safely. When a child dies in a school vicinity, it exposes a collective failure to protect the most vulnerable among us. We cannot continue to accept this.”
“The Bicycle Coalition of Maine and Vision Zero Maine are calling for immediate, statewide action to address unsafe infrastructure, reduce dangerous speeds, and prioritize street designs that protect human life over vehicle throughput.” Said Paul Drinan, Vision Zero Maine. “Effective solutions include safer crossings near schools, clearer sightlines for drivers and pedestrians, reduced speed environments where families live and learn, and consistent deployment of Vision Zero principles that aim to eliminate all traffic fatalities and serious injuries.”
While enforcement and individual behavior matter, the outcomes of crashes are overwhelmingly shaped by how our streets are designed, how traffic moves through communities, and the visibility of those walking and biking. Maine must invest in infrastructure that reflects those truths and protects every road user, especially children.
“We need decision‑makers at every level, local, regional, and state, to treat traffic violence as the public health crisis that it is,” Zarro said. “Every life lost to a traffic crash is preventable. Maine must act now to ensure that no family suffers a loss like this again.”
The Bicycle Coalition of Maine stands ready to work with communities, school districts, and policymakers to accelerate investments in safer crossings, traffic calming measures, and policies that put people first.
For more information or to support BCM’s & VZ’s work visit www.bikemaine.org and visionzeromaine.org.
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The Bicycle Coalition of Maine works to make Maine a better and safer place to bike and walk. Founded in 1992, the Bicycle Coalition of Maine has grown into the leading bicycle and pedestrian advocacy group in the state. The Coalition believes all Mainers should have access to bikes and bike education, and we envision a future where Maine’s roads, public ways, and trails are safe and accessible, resulting in cleaner travel options, improved health, and stronger economic benefits for Maine communities.